]]>It has been a heck of a hunting season here in Illinois. The weather presented its share of challenges, especially early in the season. But as we now look back at the 2018 Season Gallery, we are very proud. Our hunters took some great deer, and our guides put in a ton of hard work to make it happen.

The late season hunts were also challenging, but we had a great time. Killing big free-range bucks this time of year is as difficult as it gets. But our guides and hunters put in the effort, and we were glad to see some nice bucks hit the ground.

Check out these bucks from our late season hunt:

Among the bucks killed on our late season hunt, was an unusual buck still in velvet, what many folks call a “cactus buck”. It’s now being referred to around here as the “snow monster”. It has incredible mass and the biggest bases we’ve ever seen here in the Adams, Brown and Pike County area. We will share more on this specific story in an upcoming blog post. Keep an eye out for that.

That brings an end to the hunting season. And we want to extend a big “thank you!” to everyone who came out and hunted with us this year. It was a pleasure meeting each of you. We hope to see you back here in Illinois for another free-range whitetail hunt.

As we move full speed ahead toward the 2019 season, there will be very little downtime around here. We will be busy evaluating stand locations to determine what worked and what didn’t this past season. We will work on any necessary changes to our farm and food plot layouts. And before we know it, we will be busy with the farming operation.

In fact, having our own full-time farming operation is a large part of what makes us different as a free-range whitetail-hunting outfitter. Unlike many outfitters who rely on leases from local farmers, we are able to plan our farms and our hunting strategies simultaneously.

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a partner in our land ownership program, or our 2019 fall deer hunts, please don’t hesitate to contact us or call us now at 217-335-3804.

Whether you’re interested in investing in your whitetail hunting property, or you just want to come experience a deer hunt in the renowned “golden triangle” area of Illinois, we’d love to help you plan your next adventure.

Again, you can send us a message online, or give us a call in the office at 217-335-3804.

]]>Those who have spent time around Hadley Creek Outfitters have probably heard the phrase, “140 or nothing”, in reference to our management policy of harvesting whitetail bucks that are 140” or better.

While this policy serves as an important piece of our quality management strategy, it’s worth pointing out that each hunter comes with different goals. For many hunters, a 145” buck is a shooter without doubt. Other hunters might come with goals of shooting a buck that’s 150”, or maybe 160” or even bigger.

One of the things we love about our job here in the whitetail hunting mecca of Illinois, is offering hunters a legitimate shot at the trophy deer of a lifetime. These are no farm raised or high-fenced deer. These are smart, cagey, free-range whitetails. They aren’t easy to kill. But that’s exactly why we all love it.

Killing a mature whitetail is hard, but we’re good at it. We operate our own full-time farming operation, which gives us control of our farms. Rather than relying on leases from local farmers, we are able to farm with hunting in mind. We also have thousands of stand locations, allowing our guides to put clients on deer in almost any conditions.

Every time one of our hunters takes a stand, they are in great position to realize their personal goals. But some of our hunters pass on deer that others would take.

In fact, a hunter at Hadley Creek Outfitters recently passed on this buck. We’re guessing this deer could have scored in the upper 150s. While this hunter took a little heat from his family for passing, he opted to pick up his camera instead of his crossbow.

We would have loved to show you a photo of this hunter with the buck on the 2018 Season Gallery. But we certainly understand his decision to pass. He was waiting for his next “buck of a lifetime” which might look different than yours or mine.

We thought this story was a great way to illustrate the diverse goals of the hunters who join us here at Hadley Creek. What are your goals in 2019? If you’ve got a big, free-range whitetail on your priority list, please give us a call at 217-335-3804.

To learn more about hunting in Pike County, Illinois and the surrounding “golden triangle” area with Hadley Creek Outfitters, you can explore the rest of our website. Please contact us online or call us at 217-335-3804 for details.

]]>http://www.hadleycreek.com/choosing-to-pass-different-goals-for-whitetail-hunters/feed/0Update and Photos from the Illinois Gun Seasonshttp://www.hadleycreek.com/update-photos-illinois-gun-seasons/
http://www.hadleycreek.com/update-photos-illinois-gun-seasons/#commentsFri, 07 Dec 2018 08:00:21 +0000http://www.hadleycreek.com/?p=6321With our Illinois gun seasons in the books, we wanted to provide an update and a few recent photos. The gun seasons this year have been […]

]]>With our Illinois gun seasons in the books, we wanted to provide an update and a few recent photos.

The gun seasons this year have been very good. After a hunting season full of crazy weather, the gun seasons have exceeded expectations!

The 2018 hunting season has been a wild ride. It started off with hot temps. And then continued with a crazy amount of rain. In fact, rainfall over he past few months has broken local records. And when it wasn’t raining, we have received significant snowfall.

All that to say, conditions have been challenging to say the least. Our guides and hunters have had to work hard to put some big whitetail deer on the ground. Despite all of these challenges, we’ve taken some great deer this year, as evidenced by our 2018 Season Gallery. Go check it out to see what we’ve accomplished this season.

After all the ups and downs this year, we weren’t sure what to expect when gun seasons arrived. However, the outcome has been pleasantly surprising! Our hunters did extremely well through each of the firearm seasons this year. We’ve killed some great whitetail bucks.

In case you haven’t heard, we recently added dates for two late season January hunts! Go see our previous post for the details. If you have questions about availability for the 2019 season, please don’t hesitate to call us at 217-335-3804. Or you can send us a message.

]]>http://www.hadleycreek.com/update-photos-illinois-gun-seasons/feed/0Just Added: Two Late Season Hunting Opportunitieshttp://www.hadleycreek.com/just-added-two-late-season-hunting-opportunities/
http://www.hadleycreek.com/just-added-two-late-season-hunting-opportunities/#commentsFri, 30 Nov 2018 06:00:32 +0000http://www.hadleycreek.com/?p=6329The hunting season isn’t over yet! For anyone interested in a late season opportunity, we have just added two hunts to our calendar in January. January […]

]]>The hunting season isn’t over yet! For anyone interested in a late season opportunity, we have just added two hunts to our calendar in January.

January 3-6, 2019………4 Days…..$1,600

January 10-13, 2019…..4 Days…..$1,600

We are opening up limited spots on this late season January hunt. If you’re interested, please give us a call now at 217-335-3804.

As we approach the late season here in Illinois, there are still big, free-range whitetail bucks running around on our farms. Each one of our farms has some shooter deer. And now that gun seasons are over, the deer have several weeks off with no hunting pressure. By the time our late season hunts begin, it will be an excellent opportunity.

If you’ve been following along on our updates this season, you know it has been a wild ride. The season started with unusually warm weather and then record rainfall. Then with a cold snap just in time for our rut hunts, things got action-packed in a hurry. From highs and lows, it has been an exciting season.

Through it all, one things we are always proud of here at Hadley Creek Outfitters, is our guides’ ability to put our clients on deer no matter the conditions. Even during the tough early season hunts, our hunters put some great bucks on the ground. Just scroll through the evidence on our 2018 Season Gallery.

Looking beyond this season, we are already excited for next fall. Our hunters have passed on a lot of great young bucks and 130-class deer. Things are shaping up to be outstanding again in 2019! For availability next fall, give us a call or send us a message.

Again, to jump on a late season hunt after the holidays, call us at 217-335-3804 to check the latest availability.

]]>http://www.hadleycreek.com/just-added-two-late-season-hunting-opportunities/feed/0New Updates to the 2018 Hunting Season Galleryhttp://www.hadleycreek.com/new-updates-to-the-2018-season-gallery/
http://www.hadleycreek.com/new-updates-to-the-2018-season-gallery/#commentsFri, 09 Nov 2018 22:47:01 +0000http://www.hadleycreek.com/?p=6293The 2018 hunting season has been an eventful one so far. The early season was marked by unusual rainy weather and warm temperatures. Despite being a […]

]]>The 2018 hunting season has been an eventful one so far. The early season was marked by unusual rainy weather and warm temperatures. Despite being a bizarre start to the season, we had fun and our hunters worked hard to kill some nice Illinois Whitetails.

We were also thrilled to host our youth hunters for the annual Illinois youth deer season. The youth hunt is always one of the highlights of our year! We love the excitement and the enthusiasm that these young hunters bring. And best of all, our young hunters killed some great bucks this year!

All of the photos from our 2018 hunting season so far have been posted on our 2018 Season Gallery! You’ve probably heard us say it before, but one of the things we are very proud of here at Hadley Creek Outfitters, is the fact that we share photos from our hunts every single year!

We don’t hide behind photos of bucks that were taken years ago. On our website, you can look and see the deer that we’ve taken each and every season. And this year will be no exception! If you haven’t already checked it out, go take a look at our 2018 Season Gallery.

We will continue to add photos to the 2018 Gallery throughout the fall. So be sure to check back often to see what’s new.

If you’d like to learn more about our free range, trophy whitetail hunts, you can explore the rest of our website. If you have specific questions about our deer hunts, or for availability, please don’t hesitate to call us at 217-335-3804, or send us a message.

]]>http://www.hadleycreek.com/new-updates-to-the-2018-season-gallery/feed/0The 2018 Hunting Season Has Begunhttp://www.hadleycreek.com/the-2018-hunting-season-has-begun/
http://www.hadleycreek.com/the-2018-hunting-season-has-begun/#commentsTue, 23 Oct 2018 19:06:05 +0000http://www.hadleycreek.com/?p=6275We are thrilled to report that the 2018 hunting season is now well underway. Despite some terrible weather to start the season, our hunters have persisted […]

]]>We are thrilled to report that the 2018 hunting season is now well underway. Despite some terrible weather to start the season, our hunters have persisted and already taken some beautiful whitetail bucks this season.

The 2018 Season Gallery is now up on the website with the first trophy photos of the year. We will continue adding photos to the gallery throughout the hunting season, so be sure and check back for updates.

Here are a few of the highlights from this season:

We have limited openings now available during prime rut and gun seasons. For details and specific dates, please call us now at 217-335-3804. Don’t miss an opportunity to hunt the best dates in world renown Pike County, Illinois!

We are excited for the 2018 hunting season to be here, and we look forward to seeing many of you here this year. It’s going to be another great hunting season here in Pike County, Illinois!

Again, if you have any questions about hunt availability or details, please call us at 217-335-3804.

]]>http://www.hadleycreek.com/the-2018-hunting-season-has-begun/feed/0Update: 2018 Deer Hunt Availabilityhttp://www.hadleycreek.com/update-2018-deer-hunt-availability/
http://www.hadleycreek.com/update-2018-deer-hunt-availability/#commentsTue, 18 Sep 2018 17:50:28 +0000http://www.hadleycreek.com/?p=6255Our 2018 hunting season is around the corner! We are excited for another year of outstanding deer hunting here in Pike County, Illinois and the surrounding […]

]]>Our 2018 hunting season is around the corner! We are excited for another year of outstanding deer hunting here in Pike County, Illinois and the surrounding areas.

We have a few openings left for the 2018 deer hunting season, and we wanted to pass this along to the Hadley Creek Outfitters community. These represent some incredible opportunities, during prime hunting dates!

We enforce a 140″ minimum on all of our hunts. And we don’t hide behind photos of bucks that were taken years ago. We show photos of the deer we kill every single season. We encourage you to go and check out our 2017 Season Gallery to see our most recent successes.

Here’s a look at the great opportunities still open for our 2018 deer hunting season:

]]>http://www.hadleycreek.com/update-2018-deer-hunt-availability/feed/0Archery Setups for Your Illinois Whitetail Hunthttp://www.hadleycreek.com/the-right-setup-for-your-illinois-whitetail-hunt/
http://www.hadleycreek.com/the-right-setup-for-your-illinois-whitetail-hunt/#commentsMon, 17 Sep 2018 06:00:12 +0000http://www.hadleycreek.com/?p=5826Our hunters often ask us for our recommendations on archery setups for an Illinois whitetail hunt. Of course there are an endless variables that can determine setup. […]

]]>Our hunters often ask us for our recommendations on archery setups for an Illinois whitetail hunt. Of course there are an endless variables that can determine setup. The answers may change based on a person’s size, draw length and more. However, there are some guiding principles that we often like to mention.

First, keep it simple and stick with what you know. Shoot the setup that you’re comfortable with and that makes you the most confident. Because when it comes down to it, shot placement is far more important than anything to do with your bow, arrow or broadhead.

Each season our guides follow a lot of blood trails and see a lot of trophy bucks on the ground. Over time, we certainly recognize patterns and form opinions on what we think works best. For example, we like to remind our clients, “Come prepared to hunt bear, not mice.” Make no mistake; these big Illinois deer are very tough animals.

Beyond using an adequately heavy arrow setup, there’s not much we typically recommend to our hunters, other than to shoot a bow setup that you’re comfortable with and that you know well. Use the style of sight, rest and release that makes you feel most confident. Because when steel meets hide, your shot placement is more important than any other controllable factor.

While discussing archery setups and shot placement with hunters, we also like to emphasize the importance of avoiding marginal shots. No matter how excited you get, you must take your time, wait for a clear shooting lane and a broadside or quartering shot. When you see that giant buck appear, keep a grip on your better judgment. If you don’t have a clean shot, do the right thing and wait or pass.

As a part of your archery prep this year, take plenty of time to practice your different angles and positions. And spend time practicing in your hunting clothing. Don’t wait until this summer to get in shooting shape. Start now and be ready for that whitetail hunt that you’ve been dreaming of all year.

Here at Hadley Creek Outfitters, we are busy getting ready for the 2018 season! For our full time guides and staff, there’s no off-season. As soon as one season ends, you can find us working on farm layout and stand and food plot locations. For more information on our hunts, explore the rest of our website at HadleyCreek.com. Or you can give us a call at 217-335-3804 or send us a message.

]]>http://www.hadleycreek.com/the-right-setup-for-your-illinois-whitetail-hunt/feed/0Passive Strategy for Illinois Whitetailshttp://www.hadleycreek.com/passive-strategy-for-illinois-whitetails/
http://www.hadleycreek.com/passive-strategy-for-illinois-whitetails/#commentsTue, 04 Sep 2018 06:00:53 +0000http://www.hadleycreek.com/?p=5856Looking to tag out on a big buck this year? Consider a passive strategy and play the long game to score your deer. Too many hunters […]

]]>Looking to tag out on a big buck this year? Consider a passive strategy and play the long game to score your deer. Too many hunters go blazing into the woods with rattles and scents before creating a very well formulated plan. Start your hunt well before opening day and have a plan of attack that allows you to continue hunting a specific buck throughout the season. Patience and strategy will open up opportunities for some real monsters.

Scout Early

Get out well ahead of the season and start scouting. At Hadley Creek, guides have the advantage of being on these farms constantly. Even if you can’t be there every day, put in as much time as possible.

Keep good glass and pick through bedding areas. Take advantage of the pre-season and look in some weird and off the beaten path spots. Consider the hunting pressure as well as the deer. The dense woods and timberlines are great but also heavily hunted. Look for small patches of timber and areas where a big buck can have the advantage of sight while remaining concealed. There are some very sneaky places where the big guys hold up.

Set trail cameras as well but remain passive and avoid stomping through bedding areas and scout on foot rather than running around with a loud ATV. At Hadley Creek, trail cams are a big part of the pre-season scouting.

Food Plots

After you have located a few good bucks and know their territory, plan your food plots if the option is viable and legal. Plant near summer food sources to keep bucks in the area when fall arrives. They will tend to stay close anyways but your plots can help pattern fall movements between beds and food.

Plan the Wind

Setup multiple tree stands to combat wind and play the scent game. This is a big key to success at Hadley Creek. Set multiple stands in strategic areas based on where the bucks are bedding. You can alternate between stands according to wind direction, beds, and food plot locations. Having multiple options on a single farm is somewhat passive but also means you are less likely push bucks out of the area.

For more information on Illinois Whitetail hunts with Hadley Creek Outfitters, please call us at 217-335-3804 or send us a message.

]]>http://www.hadleycreek.com/passive-strategy-for-illinois-whitetails/feed/0The Importance of Quality Binoculars for Whitetail Huntinghttp://www.hadleycreek.com/the-importance-of-quality-binoculars-for-whitetail-hunting/
http://www.hadleycreek.com/the-importance-of-quality-binoculars-for-whitetail-hunting/#commentsMon, 13 Aug 2018 06:00:05 +0000http://www.hadleycreek.com/?p=5462By Will Jenkins Many whitetail hunters assume that quality binoculars are meant for western hunters that spend a solid portion of their day glassing hill sides […]

Many whitetail hunters assume that quality binoculars are meant for western hunters that spend a solid portion of their day glassing hill sides and valleys for an animal they want to make a stalk on. They overlook the importance of quality binoculars for whitetail hunting. Because of this perception when whitetail hunters choose their optics they often don’t spend much and end up with low quality optics that don’t perform well for their needs.

While you may not need the same power binoculars as a western hunter having quality binoculars can change how you hunt whitetails and how much more you see while on stand. Today’s premium binoculars offer crystal clear viewing and extremely good low light performance. Low light dispersion glass makes it easier to see movement and identify animals especially at distance when animals are most active at dawn and dusk.

Part of being a successful hunter is understanding how deer behave and utilize the land you are hunting. Being able to see more of that activity will help immensely not only while hunting but when scouting. Archery hunters while they won’t be shooting the same distance as rifle hunters discount the need for being able to see clearly at distance. Being able to identify a target early can make all the difference in how you set up your shot and get into position. Likewise, gun hunters often resort to looking through their scope when it’s not the best way to view animals and requires a lot more movement potentially alerting nearby wildlife.

Photo Credit: Will Jenkins

The exact specifications of the binoculars that will best suit you will depend on the type of hunting. For most whitetail hunters a 8x binocular will probably get you close enough to whatever you are viewing. If you tend to hunt mostly large open fields hundreds of yards long you may even want to move to a 10x.

While the first number is magnification and easy to understand as the field of view will appear 8 times closer or 10 times closer the objective diameter is just as important especially for low light performance. For best performance in low light you’ll want an exit pupil between 4 and 7mm. You can calculate exit pupil by dividing the objective lens by the magnification. A common binocular set up for whitetails is 8×42 which offers an exit pupil of 5.25mm. Of similar importance to the exit pupil is the quality of the glass. Springing for extra-low light dispersion glass will increase the price a bit but will make them immensely more useful when you need them most.

As you’re scouting and prepping for your next whitetail hunt, take a long hard look at your binoculars. Are they performing how they should, especially in low light? What keys to success might you be missing by not having the proper optics for your hunting style?

For more information about the hunts at Hadley Creek Outfitters, please check out the rest of the website or feel free to contact us anytime.